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Wild Edge Perch first impression

Great video Mark. Keep us updated as you play with it. I would like to know your impression in a few weeks. It seems rock solid in the video.


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Guys I have been using mine for at least one climb a day and it would be my suggestion to find a step that fits the Perch very snuggly. Assemble the two before attaching to tree and use the additional leverage gained by camming with the Perch and I have yet to have it work loose.
 
Hey guys while I was on vacation my Wild Edge Perch got delivered, I couldn't wait to get home and try it out... here is a link to my video of the unboxing, first impression and trying it out on a tree. Really like it, will have to do a side by side comparison with the Predator platform soon.

I'm considering purchasing the WEI plateform...and if I do I plan on securing the step and plate form together. Might weld or U-Bolt them together
 
Great video Mark. Keep us updated as you play with it. I would like to know your impression in a few weeks. It seems rock solid in the video.


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I plan on putting it through some tests, I will keep u posted..and thanks for the kind words... If there is something u can think of that u want me to test, let me know.
 
Mark, thanks for the perch video.... just wanna say I subscribed when you did the Dan Infalt workshop I wish I lived closer I would do one of those for sure! Back to this post....I'm watching this thread very closely as was wild edge watching the diy plywood stuff that resulted in the perch. I'm thankful for all of the responses about stability concerns, leveling, ease of operation etc...I'm welding a diy one onto a step to see how I like it but working toward eliminating the step altogether. I guess my biggest question at this point is what other improvements could be made? Shape, dimensions, weight, noise, leveling, ease of use etc?.....only building one of these for myself to complete my mobile setup!
 
Mark, thanks for the perch video.... just wanna say I subscribed when you did the Dan Infalt workshop I wish I lived closer I would do one of those for sure! Back to this post....I'm watching this thread very closely as was wild edge watching the diy plywood stuff that resulted in the perch. I'm thankful for all of the responses about stability concerns, leveling, ease of operation etc...I'm welding a diy one onto a step to see how I like it but working toward eliminating the step altogether. I guess my biggest question at this point is what other improvements could be made? Shape, dimensions, weight, noise, leveling, ease of use etc?.....only building one of these for myself to complete my mobile setup!
I like where you are going with it being one piece. I would suggest making the V portion able to fold flat for transport and then fold at an angle for installation to the tree.
 
I like where you are going with it being one piece. I would suggest making the V portion able to fold flat for transport and then fold at an angle for installation to the tree.
Yeah that is the hardest part about the whole WE step thing is the shape, not sure how to keep the integrity with the bottom V and make it fold for transport but we are thinking on the same lines!
 
It sounds like the perch uncovered a fundamental design flaw of the stepp design. ie... they bend pretty damn easy. Evident by the complaints of “not being able to get it to snap in” or “it flops around in the stepp”.

Given the fact there is no weight rating on the website and you have to agree to release wild edge of all negligence by clicking the check box to agree to their safety agreement. Sounds like not the best climbing option if you value your safety.

By the odd posts on Facebook by wild edge and their “pro staff” about “ camming them correctly” and “they will never break”, “they were designed to bend so you can bend them back and back again”, and “ah just stick them in your trailer hitch to bend them back to shape”.

Sounds like they all failed physics class and the designers know nothing about metallurgy.

Can you say “DAMAGE CONTROL”???...:eek:
 
It sounds like the perch uncovered a fundamental design flaw of the stepp design. ie... they bend pretty damn easy. Evident by the complaints of “not being able to get it to snap in” or “it flops around in the stepp”.

Given the fact there is no weight rating on the website and you have to agree to release wild edge of all negligence by clicking the check box to agree to their safety agreement. Sounds like not the best climbing option if you value your safety.

By the odd posts on Facebook by wild edge and their “pro staff” about “ camming them correctly” and “they will never break”, “they were designed to bend so you can bend them back and back again”, and “ah just stick them in your trailer hitch to bend them back to shape”.

Sounds like they all failed physics class and the designers know nothing about metallurgy.

Can you say “DAMAGE CONTROL”???...:eek:
I try to post much these days in an effort to stay neutral on all things but there is a lot of truth in this post.

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It sounds like the perch uncovered a fundamental design flaw of the stepp design. ie... they bend pretty damn easy. Evident by the complaints of “not being able to get it to snap in” or “it flops around in the stepp”.

Given the fact there is no weight rating on the website and you have to agree to release wild edge of all negligence by clicking the check box to agree to their safety agreement. Sounds like not the best climbing option if you value your safety.

By the odd posts on Facebook by wild edge and their “pro staff” about “ camming them correctly” and “they will never break”, “they were designed to bend so you can bend them back and back again”, and “ah just stick them in your trailer hitch to bend them back to shape”.

Sounds like they all failed physics class and the designers know nothing about metallurgy.

Can you say “DAMAGE CONTROL”???...:eek:

It’s been uncovered for years. I’m guessing with the new users they are just discovering this. I know I have talked about this subject for several years.
1) Who designs something to bend?
2) How many times can you bend metal before it breaks? I know that number is not infinite. Bend the tab on a soda can back and forth it eventually breaks.


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It’s been uncovered for years. I’m guessing with the new users they are just discovering this. I know I have talked about this subject for several years.
1) Who designs something to bend?
2) How many times can you bend metal before it breaks? I know that number is not infinite. Bend the tab on a soda can back and forth it eventually breaks.


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If you follow the ASTM F2126 method for "tree stands", if the platform assembly bends it is considered a failure. This test is done at a static load of at least 2.0x the working load. So if the perch/WE stepp combo is "rated" at 400 lbs it needs to hold at least 800 lbs without bending. While bending is much better than breaking, it brings problems as noted.

Fatigue is real as you noted. ASTM has a method for this as well. F2128 for repetitive loading of a tree stand assembly. Its a pass fail test based on structural damage after many cycles. So to evaluate fatigue, we are looking at a minimum of 500 cycles which is equivalent to 2 times a day for 25 days/year for 10 years at 1x the rated working load of 400 lbs. Note: Climbing tree stands are subject to 10,000 cycles.





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I don't know much of anything about metallurgy, but some guy named Jim started selling these steps in 1994 and I haven't heard of a complete step failure. Are there cases of this? If so, that would be useful information.

Good point.



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Why do these posts always have to go sideways....I was never trying to cause this......simply trying to gather intel for myself to make a saddle platform that cams over.
Disclaimer: I have wild edge steps only time one ever bent was when I threw it at a bear climbing the same tree as me, I was angry he had my bow pull up line tangled so bad wasn't sure I would ever get my bow back....but that's another post....
 
Why do these posts always have to go sideways....I was never trying to cause this......simply trying to gather intel for myself to make a saddle platform that cams over.
Disclaimer: I have wild edge steps only time one ever bent was when I threw it at a bear climbing the same tree as me, I was angry he had my bow pull up line tangled so bad wasn't sure I would ever get my bow back....but that's another post....

Because there is different experiences with every climbing method, Saddle, platform available.
I don’t think it went sideways. I think it’s just a conversation. I think we have good discussions here.
I’ve bent mine a dozen times easily


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It sounds like the perch uncovered a fundamental design flaw of the stepp design. ie... they bend pretty damn easy. Evident by the complaints of “not being able to get it to snap in” or “it flops around in the stepp”.

Given the fact there is no weight rating on the website and you have to agree to release wild edge of all negligence by clicking the check box to agree to their safety agreement. Sounds like not the best climbing option if you value your safety.

By the odd posts on Facebook by wild edge and their “pro staff” about “ camming them correctly” and “they will never break”, “they were designed to bend so you can bend them back and back again”, and “ah just stick them in your trailer hitch to bend them back to shape”.

Sounds like they all failed physics class and the designers know nothing about metallurgy.

Can you say “DAMAGE CONTROL”???...:eek:
I think it's the end user that needs to be aware of how the stepps are used on the tree. If you tie it on all crooked and then cam it over of course you can bend it. I think the "flex " in the stepp is a good thing. It helps take up the SMALL irregularities in the tree surface. That equates to a more solid connection to the tree, and that's a good thing. Now we need to learn how to use the Perch within that. I did a review and identified the flex issue. The inside edge of the Perch will round with use. Putting the platform on prior to camming it over tight is the way to use the stepp and platform combo. Whether you put the perch on the stepp before you tie it on or tie the stepp on loosely put the Perch on and then tighten it down. It is what it is. They hung a back hoe off the stepp, that's good enough for me. Users need to assume responsibility and be thoughtful in your application of the method. This a great thought provoking thread no side ways to it. If we can respectfully continue to "hash it out" we will, in the end come up with the best use for this method. I think WE did a great job with both the stepps and the Perch. IMO.
 
From my testing with my Perch so far, I see less flex in the step points when using the Perch, so it is an good thing to me.

For step failures, until we see some real examples, it is just speculation. Based on the design and points of flex, even if one of the top arms completely broke off, the step would stay on the tree. It would not be perfect to put weight on, but would hold, just as if you intentionally put one on a tree loose and test it.

I equate the safety concerns of WE steps to sending big jumps on my mtb. I can stay safer if I keep it on the ground and never jump, but I choose to learn proper techniques and take calculated risks to accomplish what I desire. Same thing here, learn proper linesman, tether, and step installation techniques and go for it, the steps have been proven to be trustworthy to date and a very low risk item when used properly.

John H.
 
I think its worth mentioning there are knock offs around.
I think WE has been more main stream in the last year or so with the Knaider/ Swaider G2 video, quite possibly more than ever before. So if there will be a failure I would expect we aren't far from it.
I also want to mention I use Stepps with a 5 step aider and like them very much, so I'm not a hater. lol
 
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